Here is a list of other resources that may help you financially. The list (see below), however, is only suggestive. ISSP in no way endorses these organizations and programs, nor can we vouch for their services or business practices, although many are very well known and reputable. Click on the items below to find more information:

Sources of Funding Scholarship Databases Funding for Specific Majors/Courses of Study International Student Loans Other Resources

Please note - The ISSP office does not provide any assistance or guidance with admissions to the university. You must contact directly the Admissions office of the school you want to attend. For a contact list go to the Students section on this website and click on Prospective students. The ISSP will not respond to any inquiries regarding admission. Thank you.

Own Country

Your home country could be a source of funding, either from organizations or companies from your home country or your government. This is an area that you will have to investigate before you leave and some of the stipulations of funding might be that you have to return to your home country once you have graduated, so bear this in mind when applying for aid from your home country.

International Organizations

There are several International Organizations, such as the Fulbright Commission, who grant aid to students all over the world. Other such organizations who offer aid are:

• The United Nations
• AMIDEAST
• World Council of Churches
• Soros Foundation
• World Health Organization

Many of these can be very competitive and many require you to be in your home country when you apply, so plan ahead!

US Government

International Students are not eligible for US Federal Aid such as Stafford Loans and Plus Loans. However, saying that, there may be funding for International Students coming into the USA, so check with the US embassy in your home country. Please see the US Dept. of State education website for some basic ideas on how to fund your course of study.

US Universities

Many U.S. colleges and universities offer limited financial aid for international students through their financial aid offices. In general, however, there is much less money available for undergraduate study in the United States than there is for graduate study. Private institutions can sometimes discount or reduce the costs of tuition; public institutions seldom have this option. You should request information about financial aid when you request an application form from the institution's admissions office. In some instances, it may be possible for you to participate in a formal exchange between your home institution and the institution you wish to attend in the United States. You can get more information on such exchanges by contacting the international student offices at the U.S. institution or by contacting the corresponding office at your institution. This kind of person-for-person exchange can reduce expenses in some instances.

Private US Organizations

US companies and organization may provide funding for international students coming into the USA. Please visit www.InternationalScholarships.com for more information and search the online database to find these awards.

Family

The biggest source of income for international students is your family. As a recent study by the Institute of International Education (www.iie.org) showed, nearly 65% of all international students in the USA were funded by there family and relatives. The second biggest area of funding were universities and colleges.

Other Sources of funding

• Private organizations (U.S. and international), foundations, and international agencies may offer scholarships, grants, and other financial aid to students.
• Certain agencies of the U.S. and foreign governments offer scholarships to international students. U.S. government funding comes only in the form of assistantships, fellowships, and awards programs. U.S. government student loans are not available to foreign students. Only two percent of all foreign students in the United States receive any funding from the U.S. government.
• Colleges and universities provide funding through scholarships, grants, and fellowships, although these are limited and most are for graduate-level students.
• Teaching and research assistantships are available at some universities for graduate students who assist an instructor with specific tasks in exchange for financial aid. Eligibility for such assistantships usually is based on academic merit or previous experience, background, and training, not on financial need. Assistantships may not cover all expenses, so you might need additional financial resources.
• Direct exchange programs between a home country university and a U.S. institution may provide a full or partial waiver of tuition and fees.
• Working in the United States is sometimes possible, but U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) regulations strictly prohibit foreign students from working off-campus in their first year. The rules also impose restrictions beyond the first year. Do not expect to be able to finance your study by working while studying in the United States.
• Loans from some commercial banks require approval from a school's financial aid office and proof of the creditworthiness of both the student and a co-borrower who must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Loan fees are very expensive; therefore, foreign students should use them only as a last resorts.